Places of interest in the vicinity

Katsura-rikyu, an imperial villa

Katsura-Rikyu is an Imperial Villa in Katsura district of Kyoto. The villa consists of a beautiful stroll garden and excellent buildings that include Shoin building and four tea houses that are arranged in the garden.

You can enjoy changes of view while walking along the path in the garden.
You loose a view of the pond here and you see the whole pond there or you
are on the waterside then you stand on the high place.

The villa is worth to visit but has a couple of obvious deficits from a viewpoint
of a tourist. Those are, (a) you have to apply for a guided tour beforehand
and, (b) you have no freedom of strolling around but have to follow a guide
who explain things of interest in Japanese as well as giving instruction
for places where you can use a camera.

Brief History

Katsura-Rikyu was built in the 17th Century as a villa of Hachijonomiya
Imperial Family. Imperial Prince Toshihito (1579-1629) who founded Hachijonomiya
Family started construction of a rather simple villa in 1615 and completed
several years later. The oldest part of Shoin building, Koshoin (Old Shoin),
was built that time.

After the prince passed away, the villa dilapidated for more than 10 years.
Prince Yoshihito's son Prince Toshitada (1619-1662) regained wealth after
he was married a daughter of a feudal lord and revived and enlarged the
villa. He completed construction of the villa around 1649.

Hachijonomiya family became extinct in 1881 and the villa is under the
jurisdiction of the Imperial Household Agency since 1883.

How to get to Katsura-rikyu

20 minutes of walk from Katsura station of Hankyu Railway Line or,

Kyoto City Bus 33 from Kyoto Station to Katsura-Rikyu-mae bus stop, then 8 minutes of walk.

Hours, Admission and Official Website

The villa is closed on National Holidays and December 28 to January 4 as
well as days they need to close for special events. They also close
on the week ends with the following exception:

They open the third Saturdays of each month and all the Saturdays of April, May, October and November. They open those Saturdays even if those are National Holidays.

One hour of tour starts at 9:00, 10:00, 11:00, 13:30, 14:30 and 15:30

Admission is free but you have to apply for a tour beforehand. Visitors
must be 18 years old or above.